Meeting every MONDAY night 6pm to 9:30pm at the Hartland Senior Center, Room 53 or 54 at 9525 East Highland Rd (M-59),just west of US-23, Howell, Michigan. We have our own beautiful PRIVATE room in the HSC. Use the entrance at the far West end of the building. Stop by and ask for Mike, Ken or Vince. We offer free instructions and lessons to beginners. Contact the LCCC by email: livingstoncountychessclub@hotmail.com

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

LCCC Week 9 League 020816 and a Master Error

League action at LCCC

Week Nine of league play happened this Monday - along with some casual chess and some chess lessons. Pretty much a typical night of great chess action at the club.

First of all, the Thunder defeated the Owls 2 - 1. Congratulations to the winners in this match: Gene M, Luke S and Jay S.

In the match to see if the league even needs to continue - DID NOT settle the matter yet! The 49'ers need two match points to clinch the league.

Paul M got one win for the 49'ers, but Tom H and Sam T drew their game. So, it is up to the featured Board 1 match between Ken T - 49'ers (W) vs Tim R - Tigers (B). This game had to be postponed until next Monday due to work schedule conflicts.

If Ken T wins or draws, the league is over as no one can catch the 49'ers. If Tim wins, then the Tigers earn a match draw and can decide their own fate in the league!

You see the 49'ers have a bye in week 10. So if the Tigers can draw this week 9 match with a Tim R win, then beat the Owls in week 10, then beat the 49'ers in the Position Round - the Tigers will be co-champions with the 49'ers!

Ken T and Tim R will play next Monday at the club. Stop on by and watch this one, while playing some casual chess yourself.

White to move and win .....except he RESIGNED instead!

In keeping with the 'Never Ever Give Up' theme I had a post or two ago, I found a doozy from a game between an International Master playing White and a Grandmaster playing Black.

Egos and reputations sometimes get in the way of our thinking.
In this situation, an IM did not want to appear rude and make a GM continue to play when it was 'obvious' the game was over.

This type of situation and attitude happens on the international chess stage, the regular Joe weekend tournaments and even in casual games at the club.

Some 'winners' give of the attitude that the 'loser' should accept defeat and quit already. The 'loser' feels this pressure and often does resign - when he should not have yet.

Here is a perfect example as obviously this IM is certainly good enough to spot the saving move IF he had on his battle armor instead of his Peace Sign t-shirt.

But White has a shocker at his disposal:
43. Nf5+ !
This saves the game and gives White the win!

43. ........ gxf5
44. Qxg3+ hxg3
45. Rxc1
with the winning endgame on White's side of the board (+3.1 for White).

Never feel pressure to resign your game. If your opponent is all that sure he is going to win, then he should enjoy the process of crushing you as you continue to play. Take any sign that your opponent is trying to get you to "resign already" as a show of weakness that he is not that sure he can actually finish you off. So, play on!

Serving the Livingston County, MI chess community, and of course the surrounding areas - like from Monroe to Marquette!! - as a proud Affiliate of the United States Chess Federation!

LCCC KIDS NIGHT!

Date and Time:

2nd Monday of every month 6pm to 8pm

Contact Info: Coach Mike at 810-599-6770

Kids Chess Night at LCCC will offer: > Casual chess games with other kids > Chess lessons are available – group or individual > Chess lectures on chess strategy will be offered > Speed Chess Tournament for all interested in joining > Training for tournaments: writing down chess moves, using a chess clock, tournament rules, and etiquette

Information on K-12 State and US Tournaments available.

This Kids Night is free to attend with plenty of free parking

How to Join LCCC on Chess.com

Once you have joined Chess. com, click on the “Share” tab on the site and then the “Groups and Teams” link.

Type in “Livingston County Chess Club” and of course the country is the United States, and hit enter.

Post a note stating you would like to join, or send an email to the hotmail email. That is all there is to it!